Self-closing, double-acting door



April 7, 1931. w. WALDRON SELF CLOSING, DOUBLE ACTING, DOOR Filed Aug.3, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet, 1

w/ 9 6 fi 7 a. r a a Z a/ 7 F Y Z 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2

W. WALDRON SELF cLosINcT, DOUBLE ACTING, DOOR Filed Aug. 3, 1928 W55- 24"Wi t.

April 7, 1931.

w m Z m W j M V? V n m/J F hwu flv W April 1, 1931. w. WALDRON ,8

SELF CLOSING; DOUBLE ACTING, DOOR Filed Aug. 3, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet. 5

*tlllll v a "H J 46 ////////////////////////z y i g2 I if Patented Apr.7, 1931 T OFFICE \VILLIAM WALDRON, GHIChGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO W. S. CLARK,

or cHronGo, ILLINOIS snLr-crosme, DOUBLE-ACTING noon n pnaubn iueangusgs, 192s. Serial-No. 297,298.

This invention" relates to" a j se1f e1osin double-acting door, andrefers more particu '5 which winwing fir ithr @ureeeibnrrom it iciilerut'ility iif in-= dust ei" jrefrigei hthr inste llhtions, pnrtic n la-rt1 t r epackmgfhouses, meat {mi-reny'pl e where t may to be i "1 1i s-efthe pr'e'sent in re to provide a doorso designed that, seem t an epespositieh,it will seeder tenor-meiotclosed fore whi swung open riiv e e"door be the chair ecteifdescr -bed desi directi ii "from" s it it I poinial; or ciosed position double tot-i fatty of no spin but operitingone swing provlde d with an eccentric head;

t end lpositiveiy lbckfr g th ed position i mii V 1" A 1 I hiiv i'ngbeen' swung to an "open posi prdvidefinez ns *esso 'ciiitefd 'with sucha (cor ejdepted-to prevent fenning ofj the ebr;injciesingmaifreehavingbeen swuhfg to peneminds to prbvide av jdoor locked in 616mm: Iidrmhposition ny industry f the c ariic ter described which is closedposition adapted to function regardless of the direction in which thedoor is to absorb the shock of the door in closing; to

provide in a construction of the character described means forlubricating the ball bearing on which the revolving; janib rotates; toprovide in the stationary upperframe of the support surrounding the doorrecesses on both sides of said upper frame forming shoul ders adapted toreceive the locking means carried the door; to providein a constructionof the character (iGSCIflbQd means for positively preventing theswingingof the door to open position, short of distortion of the lockmg means,unless the force to open the door is appliedto the bumper; to providemeans for preventing fanning and for simultane ously locking the dooriniixed or closedpositionycomprising a verticallymovableflrod cerryinga,roller on itsupper end and associated through link mechanism with thebumper, said rod and roller being maintained underthe tension of aspring; to provide it qu 1 fajci ity"; topr'ovid'e flit self-closbumperreleasesthe spring tensloned roller construction in which forceappliedto the from engagement with the recesses on the upper frame,permitting the roller to ride over a construction ofthecheractendescribed double actingiocking means, i. e., one on eachsideof said door independently functioningto fixed'ly and simultaneouslylock the door in closed position; to provideshinting czundike 0 surfacesprojecting frcmezich side of theuper frame of the supporting structurefor the permitthe roller to ride across the track on the upperframeuntll it drops intosaidrm jce'ssand shoulder, at whlch tnne-thespringexpands to normal position to force the roller to" drop into the recess;to provide a flexible FT? 1 i i i i i "lining-or stripping,- forinstance; of rubber,

' tors where small trucks are used as the motive power for conveyingmaterial into andout of the refrigerator and where it is essential thatthe door be positively locked in closed position and yet be capable ofbeing easily opened by the force of the truck being applied againstthebumper of the door.

Many other objects as well as advantages will be more apparent from thefollowing description.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the door of the presentinvention installed in a suitable supporting structure.

2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1 looking inthe direction of the arrows. i I

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view illustratingthe revolving j amb provided with an eccentric head and operatingon aball bearing.

Fig. 4c is a transverse sectionalview taken on line 1- 1 of Fig. 3looking in the direction of the arrows. I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view il- 7 lustrating a portion ofthe door supporting structure and the door itself in open position.

Fig. (Z-is a vertical sectional View taken. on line 6 6 of Fig. 1looking in the direction of the arrows.

1 Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig. 6 arrows.

8 is a cross sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 6 looking in thedirection of looking in the direction of the j the arrows.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the supporting structurecomprises two sides, 1 and 2, a base 3 and an upper frame 4;. The sides1 and 2 as well as the top frame 4 may be constructed of metal, wood orother material suitable forv the purposes for which the dooris to beused. The base 3 may comprise a floor if desired whichmay be of wood,-

hydraulic, cement, concrete or the like. Mounted on the base3 and spacedon opposite sides immediately adjacent the walls 1 and 2 are supportingplates 5 and 5 attachedto the base 3 in any suitable manner, forinstance, through the medium of the screws 6. Where the base 3compriseshydraulic cement or concrete the supporting plates' 5 and 5 may beembedded therein. The plate 5 supports a jamb 7, which in the presentinstance takes the form of a tubular structure of metal or othersuitable material so mounted as to be freely rotatable relative to thebase 5. The particular mechanism for permitting igiqaoonot free rotation(if theijambW in either direction is not illustratdiiin the drawings,since thisnmechanismumay be any conventional designaandi iswe'llknowngto those versed in mechanics. The purpose of providing this freelyrotatable jamb 7 will be hereinafter brought out.

The plate 5 may be provided with the upwardly' projecting tubularprojection 8 (Fig. 3) in which is mounted a disc 9 dished on its uppersurface to accommodate a ball 10 adapted to function as a bearing forthe swinging jamb designated as a whole at 11. This jamb 11 may comprisean elongated open ended tube 12, the lower end of which is closed bymeans of a plug 13, the lower sur 13 which moves with the jamb. 11 whenthelatter is swung is supported on the ball bearing 10. The uppersurface of the plug '13 may be dished, as shown at 14;, for the purposeof receiving lubricant which may be fed through the duct15 into thespace 16 surrounding the lower end of the plug between it and the disc9. The plug 13 is suitably keyed or otherwise connected with the tube 12so that the plug and tube move as a unit. Lubricant may be supplied tothe reservoir 14 through the aperture 17 in the wall of the tube 12. Itis to be noted that there is a slight clearance at 18 between theclosure plug 13 and projection 8 so that there will be no. friction atthis point when the jamb v is moved.

The jamb 11 is'suitably fixedly connected to one edge of a doordesignated as a whole at 19, which in the present instance may com-o itsconstruction for refrigerator purposes,

that I do not, as heretofore pointed out, limit the invention to usewith any particularkind of door. The upper and lower edges of the door19 xmaybe provided with the flexible strips 23 which may be made ofrubberor other suitable flexible material for the purpose of -makingatight joint similar to weather stripping, when the door is inclosed ornormal position. This flexible stripping material 23 may be mounted inthe upper and lower edges of the door in the manner'illustrated in Fig.6 through the instrumentality of the block 24. Similarly,one side edgeof edges 1 and2 of the supporting frame: struc ture.

Screws or other suitable fastening elements 25 may pass through the doorregist igg j; with the blocks 24 to lock said blocks i jposif sensrheuoor wmy be presi ed was window26tlirough whicha yiewmay be hadjtricjally mountedhead 28;" This head28 is adapted to be confined'by thehousing 29 of a ball'*-race"30i At this stage of'the description itmaybe wan to pointout that the face'ot the channel in which the ballrace moves *is preferablycurved, as shown at 30', to the radius or areof a circle to permit said 'ball race to freelymove and not bind whenthe door is swung on the, eccentric 28. The housing29 ismounted' in asupporting struc- -l ture 31 embedded in asuitable inwardly cut recessin the upper frame 4 and connected thereto by means of the screws orother suitable fastening elements 32. V The arrangement is such thatthedoor 1.9

l maybe swung in eitherfdirection from its "closed ornormalposition theeccentric 28 acting as the upper piyotand the ball bearinglO-'functioning as the lower PIVQR. In suchswingingmoyerrlent, therefore,the amb 11Ias well as the doorwill be caused to tip forwardly fromthewall of the supporting structure; as'clearlyillustratedin Fig. 5.Through this arrangement, the weight which rmal ly wouldbebalancedbyhaving the plvots 1n the same vertical planeis thrownoflbalance,

which-is the force "utilized inthe present inventionfor causingthe doorto automatically close when the forcefwhich swung it'open isre'iiioved.

- I Describing now another feature of the present invention comprisingthe double actingrneans for preventing fanning 'ofthe door andsimultaneously functionin to fix dl loclrthe door in 'closedposition,the under face of the upper frame 4 may be cut away to provide a? rightangle recess (Fig: 6) adapted to accommodate the recessed or shoulderper tion. 33 of a metal plate made up of the pork tion 3'3,flat track"34, sloping face 35 and flange'36 adapted to be connected toaframe 4 inany suitablemanner, such, for instance, as by the inedium'ofscrewsorother fasten in'g elements 3'? In one embodiment ofjtheinvention, two of these plates are disposed immediately adjacent eachother in'abutting relationship, the cut away portion 33 of oneplatebeing disposed on the opposite side of the frame 4 from the cutawayportion 33 of the adjacent plate, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 1, fora purpose to be now described. On each side of the door 19 there is disposed a bumper 38 pivot'ally mounted through the mediumof the pin 39 toa bracket lrl l l 40 (Fig. 6) carried by the door. The bumper takes theform of a semiclrcular piece of metal so mounted on the bracket 40 5'sto leave a space'41 between itsfieefnd and theface of the door. Thus,when truck; hand or other instrumentalifty, applies force to the outer33 f the imp rflt w l Wi gb 1 32? 39 to decreasethe space 41 between thefreeerid of the bumper 'the surface of thedoorfl Normally, asillustrated in'Fig. 3, the inner face fithe bumper is in contact witlifaroller 42. Force applied against; theouter surf t c e f e b per 8 i here, o mm niqa t ou h t e n ns of th iin ij frfad ofsaid"b11i'nper withsaid Misti 12: roller 42 is carried by aibifurcated linkfi i lg, whichlatter carries on its otherendfaroller dwted 5 n c e fa t" f t e ebt-The roller 42 isalso connected to zi bif urcate d link mounted forpivotalfmovemntin a bracket 46 through the medium a pin 47'. The link 43is provided with eiten'sionl48 on which is fixedly carrieda" "in whichthe lower end'of an uprig t 5 "1s adaptedto be connected: The arrahgemeijit such that force applied a'gainstth e outerffsurface ofthebumper38 causes the rollerj42 to roll on the inner surfaceofthebumpeif hfs, which in turn transmits piyotalmoyementto thelinks 43 and 5wherebyth roller'44rolls downwardly on the surfacejof the 'door 19. Thisdownward movement ofthelink 43 car rieswithit the uprightrod 50 rforajpnrp ojse faces 3 4 j Connected to the upper surfaced theddor 19 s aac ha ng. upp r a d lower projections58 and'59 internallyaperturdjtoreceive the rods and 53, respectiyely. "The upper projection serves as ashoulderjto limit the movement of the enlargedportion 54 which inturnconfines the upper coil spring 60 while the lower projection spring 60.

serves to confine the lower endof said coil *As heretofore describei-thris'a tarnish 38 and a pp e dleek ssem y tu; ated thereby located on eachd'opr,

as illustrated in Fig.5. j V j The operation of the construction doscribed will be apparent fromthe foregoing description. The doorishungfto swing in open or closed'lpositiori to' ride sur;

djljof a;

' by weight being placed againstthe bumper 38"releasing the roll-er andpermitting the H door to be swung open by a COlltll'lLlfLIlCQ of eitherdirection. In-clos'ed or normal position it occupies theposition'illustratedin :Figs. 1 and 6 wherein the rollers 56 on eachside" of the door register with their resp-ed tive recesses to'lock thedoor in closed position. The door can only be opened by releasingtheregistration between the rollers 56 and recesses 33, which isaccomplished the force which released the roller. In open position thedoor occupies the'position illustrated in Fig. Just as soon as theforcewhich opened the door is removed, the door ofits own weight due to theeccent'rically mounted jamb will return to normal position.

To preventfanning of the door, and to insure alpositive locking of thedoor in closed position, the roller'is' gradually compressed" againstthe tension of the spring 60 by roll ing along the inclined surface 35and the horizontal surface 34% until it reaches thereforceappliedagainst the bumper 38.

The door has been scientifically designed and possesses a number ofpoints of advan tage. Yet, inspite of its many advantages,

there are comparatively few mechanical parts and combinations whichmight tend to get outof order. s

I claim as my invention i .1. In combination, a door mounted forswinging movement relative to a stationary frame adjacent thereto,a'pi-votally mounted jamb integrallyassociatedwith one side edge of saiddoor to swing therewith, a head associated with the'upper end of saidjambforming a pivot eccentricallymounted relative to r the lower pivotof said jamb, said lower pivot 7 frame adjacent thereto, apivotallymounted jambintegrally'associated with one side edge head assocomprisinga ball and socket.

2.11m combination, a door mounted for swinging movement in eitherdirection from a, closed position relative to a stationary of saiddoor-to swing therewith, a

ciatedwith the upper end of said j form inga substantially universalpivot eccentrically mounted relative to, the lower-pivot of saidj ainb,said lower pivot comprising a ball andsocket. v U J j: I

3.'In combination, a door mounted for swinging movement relative to astationary frame adjacent thereto, apivotallymounted jamb integrallyassociated withone side edge of said door to swing therewith, a headasso-. ciated with the upper endof said j amb, form ing a pivot'eccentrically mounted relative ;to

.thel'ower pivot of said jamb, and-meansadapted to automatically lockthedoor in closed position, comprising a spring tensioned latch carried bythe door adapted to register with said stationary frame.

L'In combination, a door mounted for swinging movement relative to astationary frame adjacent thereto, a pivotally mounted j amb integrallyassociated with one side edge of said'door to swing therewith, aheadassociated with the upper end of said j amb forming, a pivoteccentrically mounted relative to thelower pivotof said j amb, meansadapted to automatically lock the door when the same swings intohorizontal position, comprising a spring tensioned latch carried by thedoor adapted toregister with said stationary frame, and a movable bumpercarried by-the door and automatically actuable by force applieda ainstsaid bumper to relea. e said spring tension latch from looking positionto permit swinging of the door, out of horizontal position. i l i '5. Incombination, a door mounted for swinging movement relative to astationary frame adjacent thereto, and a pivotally mounted j ambintegrally associated with one side edge of said door to swingtherewith,

said jamb beingmounted to swing freely on i an eccentrically disposedpivot.

d In combination, a door mounted for swinging movement in eitherdirection from a closed position relative to a stationary frame adjacentthereto, and a pivotally mounted jamb integrally associated with oneside edge of said door to swing therewith, said j amb being mounted toswing freely on an eccentrically disposed pivot.

7 In combination, a door mounted for swinging movementrelative to astationary frame adjacent thereto, a pivotally mounted j amb integrallyassociated with one side edge.

of said door to swing therewith, said jamb being mounted to swing on aneccentrically disposed pivot, and means carried by the door adapted toautomatically lock same in normal position, comprising a movable bumperand automaticv means actuable. only by force applied against the bumperto release the door from a locked position to permit same towingswinging movement relative to a stationary frame adjacent thereto,apivotallyv mounted jamb integrally associated with one side edge ofsaiddoorto swing therewith, a head associated with the upper end of saidjamb forming a pivot eccentrically mounted relative to the lower pivotof said jamb, andmeans adapted to automatically lock the door. in closedposition, comprising a spring tenvsioned latch carried by the dooradapted to register with a recess in said stationary 8. In combination,adoor mounted for Ill) of said door to swing therewith, a headassociated with the upper end ofisaid ja-mb forming a pivoteccentrically mounted relative to the lower pivot of said j amb, meansadapted to automatically lock the door in closed position, comprising aspring tensioned latch carried by the door adapted to register with saidstationary frame, and a movable bumper also carried by the door,operative connections between the movable bumper and said springtensioned latch, said movable bumper being actuable to automaticallyrelease said spring tensioned latch to permit the door to swing only byforce applied against it.

10. In combination, a door mounted for swinging movement in eitherdirection from a closed position relative to a stationary frame adjacentthereto, a pivotally mounted jamb associated with one side edge of saiddoor adapted to swing with said door, a head cooperatively associatedwith the upper end of said jamb and mounted to provide a pivoteccentrically disposed relative to the pivot associated with the lowerend of said jamb, means for preventing fanning of the door and forautomatically locking the door in closed position, comprising a springtensioned means carried by the door adapted to register with a recess inthat section of the stationary frame located adjacent to and above thedoor, an upright rod associated with said spring tensioned means and amovable bumper carried by the door actuable only by force appliedagainst it to actuate said upright rod to automatically release said I sorin tensioned means from lookin en a ement to permit the door to beswung open.

11. In combination, a door enclosed by a. frame, a jamb integrallyassociated with one side edge of said door and mounted for pivotalmovement relative to said frame, a head cooperatively associated withthe upper end of said jamb mounted to provide an eccentrically disposedpivot relative to the lower pivot for the jamb, means for automaticallylocking the door in closed position, comprising an upright rod havingcooperatively associated with it spring tensioned means carried by thedooradapted to register with a recess in said frame, a movable bumperalso carried by said door and having cooperative association with saidupright rod, said spring tensioned means being releasable from saidrecess to automatically permit swinging of the door in either directionrelative to said frame only by force applied against said bumper.

.. 12..In combination, a door enclosed by a frame, a j amb integrallyassociated with one side edge of said door and mounted for pivotalmovement relative to said frame, a head cooperatively associated withthe upper end of said jamb mounted to provide an eccentrically disposedpivot relative to the lower municates with an inclined track with whichsaid spring tensioned means makes contact in the opening and closing ofthe door.

13. In combination, a door mounted for swinging movement relative to astationary frame adjacent thereto, means for locking said door in closedposition, comprising an upright cooperatively associated wit a springtensioned means carried by said door adapted to register with meanscarried by that section of the frame adjacent to and above the door forautomatically causing a locking connection between the door and saidframe, and automatically releasing means for releasing said springtensioned means comprising a movable bumper actuable only by forceapplied against it to actuate said upright rod and in turn release saidspring ten-- .sioned means, a jamb mounted for independent rotatablemovement in said frame and adapted to absorb the shock encountered inclosin of the door.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM WALDRON.

